McLaren showed real intent during the second free practice session of the 2025 Austrian Grand Prix. Lando Norris topped the timesheets, leading team-mate Oscar Piastri and home hero Max Verstappen. It was an impressive showing that could set the tone for the rest of the race weekend.
Norris Leads the Way at Austrian GP FP2 2025
Lando Norris delivered an outstanding lap of 1:04.580 on Medium tyres. His pace held strong throughout the session, despite several challenges from rivals. McLaren’s balance looked dialed in, with Piastri also extracting strong pace from both the Hard and Soft compounds.
Oscar Piastri wasn’t far behind, clocking in a best of 1:04.737 on Soft tyres. Verstappen managed to recover from an early dip to post a 1:04.898, giving Red Bull some encouragement ahead of qualifying.
McLaren Showcases Raw Pace on Mixed Tyres
Norris started early with a sharp 1:05.437 on Mediums. Even as drivers began soft-tyre simulations, Norris held his ground. Russell briefly displaced him with a 1:05.229, but Norris fired back, reclaiming P1 with a stunning lap that proved too quick to beat.
Piastri also surged late in the session. His lap on the red-banded Softs edged him briefly ahead of the field before Norris shut down any hopes of a McLaren P2-P1 switch.
Verstappen Fights Back But Falls Short
Max Verstappen had a quiet start but came alive in the final minutes. A lap of 1:04.898 placed him third, just behind the McLarens. While not dominant, Verstappen’s effort suggested he’s still in the fight, especially with Red Bull showing better race pace than single-lap speed in FP1.
His team-mate Yuki Tsunoda finished seventh, just ahead of Sauber’s Gabriel Bortoleto.
Midfield Battles Tighten Across the Grid
Aston Martin had a strong outing with Lance Stroll taking a surprise P4 and Alonso sliding into P9. Ferrari’s session was mixed, Leclerc found pace late on to grab fifth, but Hamilton struggled for grip, finishing tenth.
George Russell had flashes of pace, running second at one point, before ending in P6. Mercedes rookie Kimi Antonelli also showed promise with a solid P11.
Williams had both drivers within the bottom half, while Racing Bulls and Sauber fought closely in the mid-pack. Alpine’s Franco Colapinto rounded out the field in P20.
Summary
The 2025 Austrian GP FP2 saw McLaren deliver a powerful statement. Norris led convincingly, supported by a strong run from Piastri. Verstappen couldn’t quite match them on the day, but he remains a threat for qualifying. The field is tightly packed, and the Red Bull Ring promises an exciting weekend ahead.
| Pos | Driver | Car |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lando Norris | McLaren |
| 2 | Oscar Piastri | McLaren |
| 3 | Max Verstappen | Red Bull |
| 4 | Lance Stroll | Aston Martin |
| 5 | Charles Leclerc | Ferrari |
| 6 | George Russell | Mercedes |
| 7 | Yuki Tsunoda | Red Bull |
| 8 | Gabriel Bortoleto | Sauber |
| 9 | Fernando Alonso | Aston Martin |
| 10 | Lewis Hamilton | Ferrari |
| 11 | Kimi Antonelli | Mercedes |
| 12 | Liam Lawson | Racing Bulls |
| 13 | Isack Hadjar | Racing Bulls |
| 14 | Pierre Gasly | Alpine |
| 15 | Esteban Ocon | Haas |
| 16 | Alexander Albon | Williams |
| 17 | Carlos Sainz | Williams |
| 18 | Oliver Bearman | Haas |
| 19 | Nico Hülkenberg | Sauber |
| 20 | Franco Colapinto | Alpine |
Disclaimer: Session results and performance observations are subject to change based on qualifying and race events.
Source: FIA
